Spokane residents get a white April

Bing Crosby, who grew up in Spokane, dreamed of a white Christmas. Now residents are getting a taste of a white April.

Up to seven inches of snow fell Thursday on parts of Spokane, pushing what was already a record snow total to nearly 100 inches for the winter.

There were numerous accidents on icy streets, and city snowplows were out in force. The snowfall shattered the record for the date, 1.2 inches in 1920.

"It is unusually heavy, but (snow in April) is not unheard of," said Matt Fugazzi of the National Weather Service in Spokane.

That's small consolation to residents who are sick of snow after two of the three snowiest winters in the city's history the past two years. Last year, 92.6 inches fell on the city.

"I've got to drive to work too," Fugazzi said.

Snow fell across Eastern Washington on Thursday, with the heaviest concentrations running from Ritzville through the Palouse into the Blue Mountains. At 10 a.m., snow on the ground amounted to 7 inches in Spokane, 6 inches in Whitman County and 5 inches in Stevens County, the agency said.

Spokane set a record for the snowiest winter in the city's history Sunday when the total hit 93.6 inches, breaking the record of 93.5 set in 1949-50. Thursday's snowfall had not been measured officially as of midday but will only add to the total.

More snow could fall later Thursday and Friday, when the storm pattern is forecast to end.

While heavy snow in the spring is rare, it is not a record for lateness. Fugazzi said 3.5 inches fell on the city on May 11, 1967.

Two consecutive heavy winters are also rare but not necessarily a sign of things to come, he added.

"We cannot make an extrapolation for next winter based on what we've had," Fugazzi said. "There's no way we can see that far out."

Realistically, winter is winding down, with temperatures forecast for the 50s in coming days, he said.

"This can't keep up much longer," Fugazzi said.

So far, though, temperatures have also been well below normal this season.

On Wednesday, both Ephrata and Pullman set records for the lowest high temperature for the date. Ephrata's high was 40 degrees, breaking the record of 47 set in 2006. Pullman reached 35, breaking the record of 39 set in 1975.

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